Well pressure control apparatus with protector device



1955 w. E. PARKHURST ET AL 3,225,833

WELL PRESSURE CONTROL APPARATUS WITH PROTECTOR DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Original Filed Nov. 15. 1961 Surface of land or floor of ocean INVENTORSWARREN E. PARKHURST CASSIUS L. TILL MAN DI ATTORNEY 28, 1965 w. E.PARKHURST ET AL 3,225,833

WELL PRESSURE CONTROL APPARATUS WITH PROTECTOR DEVICE Original FiledNov. 15. 1961 R s Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

4 FIG. l0.

FIG. l'l.

INVENTORS WARREN E. PARKHURST CASSIUS L. TILLMAN III ATTORNEY 1965 w. E.PARKHURST ET AL 3,225,833

WELL PRESSURE CONTROL APPARATUS WITH PROTECTOR DEVICE Original FiledNov. 15, 1961 3 SheetsShe-et 5 FIG. l5.

FIG. l2.

BY FIG. l4. 9

United States Patent 3,225,833 WELL PRESSURE CONTROL APPARATUS WITHPROTECTOR DEVICE Warren E. Parkhurst 210 Bristol Place, New Orleans 14,La., and Cassius L. Tillman III, Peter Road, Harvey,

Original application Nov. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 152,576, now Patent No.3,151,680, dated Oct. 6, 1964. Divided and this application June 5,1964, Ser. No. 379,759

6 Claims. (Cl. 166-207) This is a division of application Ser. No.152,576, filed Nov. 15, 1961, now Patent No. 3,151,680.

This invention relates to oil and gas wells and it is more particularlyconcerned with improvements in control apparatus and the installationthereof.

An object of the invention is the provision of such apparatus which canbe installed under conditions that are ordinally diflicult, impracticalor impossible, due to adverse natural causes, such as in deep water orother technical difliculties.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means forpreventing damage to well equipment by tools and parts at all timesduring construction and installation.

These and still further objects, advantages and features of theinvention will appear more fully from the following description inconjunction with the accompanying drawing showing embodiments of theinvention by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an assembled well control systemin accordance with an embodiment of the invention generally along theline 1-1 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a form of protectordevice adapted for use with the invention in connection withinstallation of the well tubing.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view. partly in section, of a form of protectordevice adapted for use with the invention in connection with theinstallation of the inner casing and ancillary equipment.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a transfer device adapted for usewith the protector of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a transfer device adapted for usewith the protector of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of FIG. 6, partly broken away.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of FIG. 5, partly broken away.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional ,view of a fragmentary portion of theinstallation illustrating the relative positions of the protector,corresponding transfer device, and well tubing during placement of theprotector.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 illustrating the technique forremoval operations.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIGS. 9 and 10 after removal of thetransfer device.

FIG. 12, 13 and 14 are a series of sectional views illustratingsuccessive steps in the procedure for removing the protector deviceassociated with the operations carried out through casing hanger 32.

FIG. 15 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the procedure forinserting the lower bowl protector of FIG.

3,225,833 Patented Dec. 28, 1965 ICE 4 by means using the inner casing31 and the corresponding transfer device of FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. l5 modified to show the correspondingprotector removal procedure.

Referring with more particularity to the drawing in which like numeralsdesignate like parts the invention is illustrated in connection with aconventional outer or surface casing tubing 30 set in the ground in theconventional manner and inner casing tubing 31 withinthe outer casingtubing 30. The inner casing tubing string is supported by means of atubular hanger 32 disposed in the lower part of a hollow center sectionor bowl 33 of a casing head or body 34 mounted on the upper end of theouter casing tubing 30. Inner threads 35 of a dependent flange 36 at thebottom of the body 34 engage external threads 37 of the casing 30.

Above the threads 35 the hollow portion of the body 34 is somewhatrestricted to provide an annular upwardly facing shoulder 38 to engage acorrespondingly downwardly facing annular shoulder 39 of the hanger 32.The outer surface of the hanger 32 above the shoulder 39 is enlarged anddownwardly tapered to register with the adjacent correspondingly shapedsurface of the bowl 33.

An annulus 40 of the hanger 32 projects downwardly within the dependentflange 36 and is recessed to provide an annular space 41 between it andthe flange. The annulus 40 has interior threads 42 which engage exteriorthreads 43 of the casing tubing 31. The upper portion of the hanger 32above the threads 42 is also provided with threads 44 separated from thethreads 43 by a me dian section 45. These upper threads are for thepurpose of temporarily engaging the lower end of a pipe (not shown) tofacilitate setting the hanger in place after which look screws 47 areengaged and the pipe is removed.

The wall of the hanger32 is provided with a series of circumferentiallyspaced ducts 46 each extending diagonally downward from a point adjacentthe inner rim of the wall to the outer edge at the bottom, substantiallyas shown. Other functionally equivalent positions, however, may be usedfor the ducts.

The hanger 32 is held in seated position by means of a group ofcircumferentially spaced lock screws 47 that pass through lateralapertures 48 in the body 34. These look screws have a conical point attheir inner ends and are adapted to engage an annular V-shaped groove 49on the periphery of the hanger 32 whereby the hanger is wedged intoposition against high pressure gaskets 50 set in grooves of the hangerto effect a high pressure fluid seal. The lock screws are sealed fromfluid leakage after they are set in position by means of conventionalglands at the ends of the stems thereof comprising gland packing 51 andgland nuts 52.

An annular groove 53 is provided in the body 34 adjacent the lower endsof the ducts 46 as a discharge manifold. One or more dischargeapertures, such as the aperture 54 is provided through the wall of thebody 34 in communication with the groove 53. The outer portion 55 of theaperture 54 is enlarged and provided with threads to engage a dischargecontrol valve 56.

Another opening 57 is provided in the body 34 in communication with theannular space 41, an outer portion 58 being enlarged and threaded toreceive a valve 59 for the control of material flowing between thecasings 30 and 31.

A second hanger 60 is disposed in the upper part of the bowl 33 of thebody 34 directly on top of the hanger 32. It is provided with an axialbore 61, the lower end of which contains threads 62 to engage the thread63 at the upper end of the well tubing 64. The upper end of the bore 61is provided with a separate threaded section 65 to engage temporarily athreaded stem or pipe (not shown) during manipulation thereof to set thehanger in place after which the stem or pipe is removed. A third set ofthreads 61A i provided for the installation of a duct plug or similardevice to control pressure in the tubing prior to installation of thevalve 71. This plug may be removed through the duct of valve 71. Thehanger 60 is held in place by lock screws 66 engaging a circumferentialV-groove 67 similar to the lock screws 47. High pressure sealing'gaskets68 are provided in grooves of the hanger 60 adjacent the bodysubstantially as shown.

The actual construction of the well and easing lacement prior to thesetting of the hangers requires that the casing and tubing strings bepassed downwardly through the body 34. The inner surfaces of the bodyare, therefore, subjected to possible damage by the casing and tubingstrings and other parts during their installation. Such damage to thebody adversely affects the sealing of the hangers thereto, causingleakage, misplacement, and other undesirable effects.

In order to prevent such damage there are provided wear protector rings88 and 89 for use during the installation of the inner casing tubing,well pipes, and the placement and retrieving of ancillary equipment.

The protector ring 88 is adapted to set in the space normally occupiedby the hanger 60 and it is provided with a circumferential V-groove 90for the reception of the lock screws 66 to hold it in place. Tofacilitate both the placement and subsequent removal of the protectorring there is provided a transfer or retriever device 91 that fits theinside diameter of the protector ring 88 and is latchab-le thereto bymeans of fingers 92 hinged on pins 93 in recesses 94 outwardly biased toa protracted position by springs 95. These fingers are retractablewithin their recesses against the force of the said springs. Thetransfer device can be positioned with the fingers projecting eitherupwardly or downwardly. In the upwardly projecting position the outerends of the fingers 92 are adapted to engage and mesh with the uppergroove 96 of a pair of cooperating latching grooves 96 and 97 on theinterior of the ring. (See FIGS. 20, 21 and 22.) When the position ofthe transfer device is inverted with the fingers projecting downwardlythey are adapted to engage and register with the lower latching groove97 (see FIGS. 17 and 18). Tension of the springs 95 are collectivelysufficient to support the weight of the protector ring in the latterposition of engagement but are yieldable under a greater force than canbe applied by clamping the ring to the body 34 and moving the transferdevice upwardly as illustrated in FIG. 18. Thus the protector ring maybe installed by slipping the transfer device over a pipe section, suchas the pipe section 98 and clamping it to the pipe section by means ofthe set screws 99, preferably abutting the end of a coupler 100. Thetransfer device is then moved upwardly through the center opening of theprotector ring until the fingers 92 latch into the lower groove 97whereupon the ring can be set in place by manipulating the pipe section98. The ring is then secured in position by means of the lock screws 66after which the pipe section 98 is elevated to withdraw the transferdevice from the ring through the top (see FIG. 18) thereof. The transferdevice can then be removed from the pipe section by removing thecoupling 100 and releasing the set screws 99. It is preferred to placethe transfer device above or below a coupler so that it will be urged bythe coupler in the direction of the applied force.

This procedure insures that if too much force i applied in the downwarddirection, the transfer device would merely slip and not cause thefingers to be sheared.

Further operations may be carried out through this protector or the welltubing to be lowered through the body '34 may then proceed through theopening in the protector ring. When this has been completed and it isdesired to remove the protector ring the transfer device is turnedup-side-down and placed on the pipe section 98 preferable above and inabutting engagement with the coupler as shown in FIG. 20. The set screws99 are then clamped against the pipe 98 and the transfer device loweredthrough the top of the protector ring as shown (FIGS. 20 and 211) untilthe fingers 92 latch into position in the upper groove 96. The lockscrews 66 are then backed out and the pipe 98 elevated which results inthe withdrawal of the protector ring as shown in FIG. 22. The protectorring and transfer device may then be removed from the pipe 98.

The protector ring 89 is used instead of the protector ring '88 duringdrilling and other operations prior to the installation of inner casing31 and the setting or recovery of ancillary equipment. It is similar tothe protector ring 88 and is adapted to be disposed in the body 34 atthe place normally occupied by both the upper and lower hangers 32 and60. It is also held in position by the lock screws 66 which are adaptedto engage a circumferential groove 101. There are provided similar upperand lower cooperating latching grooves 102 and 103 for the reception ofthe outer ends of fingers 104 disposed in recesses 105 of a transferdevice or retriever 106 and outwardly biasing springs 107 hingedlymounted on pins 108. The transfer device 106 is provided with set screws109 to re leasibly secure it to a pipe section 110 during withdrawal andremoval as explained above in connection with the transfer device 91.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. Apparatus for a well installation having outer casing, a body memberadapted to be attached to and supported on the upper end of the casing,said body member having a vertical opening axially therethrough, saidopening having a relatively enlarged upper bowl portion and a restrictedlower port-ion, said apparatus comprising the combination of a wearprotector ring adapted to lie in said bowl portion, said ring havingannular grooves on its interior side and a transfer device for liftingthe ring into and out of the bowl, said transfer device comprising anannular member having recesses at its outer periphery, fingers pivotallymounted on the annular member in said recesses adapted to engage andlatch into said groove, means resiliently biasing the outer ends of thefingers to a protracted position on the exterior of the recesses, thecross-sectional configuration of the grooves being right triangular, thehypotenuses thereof lying inwardly and facing each other.

2. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 in which the transfer device has acentral axial opening therethrough and means for releasibly clamping tothe transfer device a member disposed in said central axial opening.

3. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 in which the wear protector ring hastwo annular grooves on its interior side, one above the other, forselectively engaging the fingers of the transfer device in oppositerelative positions.

4. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 and means for releasibly securing thering to the body.

5. Apparatus as defined by claim '1 in which the body member includeslock screws radially positioned for protraction into and retraction fromthe said upper bowl por tion and the wear protector ring has peripheralgrooves adapted to register with the inner ends of said lock screwsv intheir protracted positions when the wear protector ring. is disposed insaid upper bowl portion.

'6, The combination of a well installation having outer casing, a bodymember adapted to be attached to and supported on the upper end of thecasing, said body member having a vertical opening axially therethrough,said opening having a relatively enlarged upper bowl por- 5 6 tion, arestricted lower portion and a wear protector ring References Cited bythe Examiner in said bowl portion, means releasibly securing the ringUNITED STATES PATENTS to the body, said ring having annular grooves onits interior side, an annular member having recesses at its outer 1 Exisperiphery, fingers plvotally mounted on the annular mem- 5 1 3 7/1945Patton 29 280 her in said recesses, said fingers being engaged with andlatched into said groove, means resiliently biasing the v outer ends ofthe fingers to a protracted position on the CHARLES OCONNELL PrlmaryExammer exterior of the recesses, the cross-sectional configurationBENJAMIN HERSH, Examiner.

of the grooves being right triangular, the hypotenuses 10 thereof lyinginwardly and facing each other.

6. THE COMBINATION OF A WELL INSTALLATION HAVING OUTER CASING, A BODYMEMBER ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED TO AND SUPPORTED ON THE UPPER END OF THECASING, SAID BODY MEMBER HAVING A VERTICAL OPENING AXIALLY THERETHROUGH,SAID OPENING HAVING A RELATIVELY ENLARGED UPPER BOWL PORTION, ARESTRICTED LOWER PORTION AND A WEAR PROTECTOR RING IN SAID BOWL PORTION,MEANS RELEASABLY SECURING THE RING TO THE BODY, SAID RING HVING ANNULARGROOVES ON ITS INTERIOR SIDE, AN ANNULAR MEMBER HAVING RECESSES AT ITSOUTER PERIPHERY, FINGERS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE ANNULAR MEMBER IN SAIDRECESSES, SAID FINGERS BEING ENGAGED WITH AND LATCHED INTO SAID GROOVE,MEANS RESILIENTLY BIASING THE OUTER ENDS OF THE FINGERS TO A PROTRACTEDPOSITION ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE RECESSES, THE CROSS-SECTIONALCONFIGURATION OF THE GROOVES BEING RIGHT TRIANGULAR, THE HYPOTENUSESTHEREOF LYING INWARDLY AND FACING EACH OTHER.